2026 Midterms Set to Be Most Expensive in US History: At Least $2 Billion in Outside Senate Spending as Republicans Outspent Democrats by 60% and Still Lost at Least Seven Seats
WASHINGTON — The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are expected to be the most expensive in American history, according to the nonpartisan watchdog group OpenSecrets. In the battle for the U.S. Senate, outside groups and independent committees spent at least $2 billion — separate from candidates' direct expenditures.
A Reuters analysis of U.S. Federal Election Commission filings published on November 6 shows that Republican-affiliated groups spent roughly 60 percent more than Democratic-aligned groups, but that did not prevent Republicans from losing at least seven Senate seats. Republican groups spent more than $1 billion on Senate races the party ultimately lost. The two Senate races that remain uncalled, in Alaska and Mississippi, are omitted from the figures; outside spending in those two states combined came to $113.3 million.
The Senate race in Texas was the most expensive in the country: the world's richest person, Elon Musk, and other deep-pocketed Republicans spent $316 million to back Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Democratic groups spent $109 million to support James Talarico, whose campaign raised more than $146 million directly. Marquee races in Ohio and Michigan also drew nine-figure sums in outside spending, with the dollars accelerating as Election Day approached.
Spending shifted quickly with the state of each race. Spending in Georgia and North Carolina declined as Republican prospects in those races faded, while spending ramped up in South Carolina, Mississippi and Kansas as competitive races emerged in what was formerly safe Republican terrain. Democrats may question their spending in Louisiana, where they put in just over $129,000 and their candidate, Jamie Davis, lost by less than two percentage points.
Source: Reuters
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国国会大厦夜景。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，公共领域。 / Photo: The U.S. Capitol at night. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
